Brief Description:
This is a method to reduce power consumption in
microprocessor functional modules which have dedicated memory, buffer, or queue
resources by forming a queue to those resources, based on dynamic statistics of
the memory module activity, and depending on need or activity, the modules are
adaptively changed in size.
Applications:
This concept is for super-scalar micro-processors.
Such processors can accept instructions similar to a scalar processor, but has
the additional capability to fetch, issue and execute multiple instructions in a
given machine cycle. The issue queue provides ready instruction to the
execution units.
Advantages:
Issue queues typically burn a lot of power because the
queue is implemented with a continuously clocked array of flip-flops and
latches, and the conventional implemenation wastes additional power by not
exploiting the exploiting the dynamically changing requirements of the executing
work load. The proposed adaptive issue queue achieves significant power
reduction without appreciable performance loss or significant additional
hardware.